***Healthcare summit thread***

[LSK]

Follow along here:

http://www.c-span.org/Watch/C-SPAN3_rm.aspx

http://www.c-span.org/Topics/Health-Care-Insurance-Reform-Legislation-Town-Hall.aspx

Obama started with some comments now Lamar Alexander is speaking.

They hid Obama's teleprompter really well!! :sarcasm:

[gateley]

1. All Alexander is talking about is the COSTS. nt

[Subdivisions]

2. Immediately out of the gate, Lamar Alexander tells the

President to scrap the entire Democratic proposal and start over. This is nothing but a fucking joke. The repulicunts have absolutely no good faith intention of compromising. None. This is a wash already.

[tridim]

20. Every bullshit point he makes will be rebuffed immediately

Just watch.

[Blaukraut]

33. He did make one point I agree with. Doctors turning down some

insurance. We have Tricare Prime (retired military) and have a very limited doctor/hospital pool we can access. The same goes for Medicare and Medicaid. If there is an expansion of those, there should also be a safeguard against physicians and hospitals being able to pick and choose the insurance they take.

[BattyDem]

70. I agree.

If there are going to be mandates to PURCHASE insurance, then there should be mandates to ACCEPT insurance. All providers should have to accept all insurance plans ... period.

[alfredo]

102. Some doctors turn down patients because they already

have all the patients they can handle in a timely manner. He had to hire another doctor before he could admit more patients.

[DeschutesRiver]

106. We have an expensive Blue Cross policy for self employed people

and we have the same result, though for a different reason. In the last so many years, every time I try to get into a decent doctor's practice, they are full up. We had one regular doctor, who retired, but we hadn't seen him much because thank god we haven't been seriously ill.

But when I went to find a new doctor, I called dozens of practices, based on recommendations, and not one could take us as a patient because their practices were full. I've ended up with a series of right out of school and in many cases way less than competent doctors, who have 10 minutes to spend talking to me, no knowledge, and hand me a fist full of prescriptions in the hopes that one will work to fix whatever they can't figure out or won't take the time to figure out. I don't know what we will do if we become seriously ill, and given our age, it is just a matter of time. I really try not to think much about it.

So while the reasons for it differ, I am in the same boat, and I laughed at Lamar for acting like this was true only for Medicare/medicaid patients. With our BC/BS, not only is the pool of doctors that we can use already limited from the start, of those, I find less than a handful ready to take me as a patient. And none so far that do much more than scare me because of how they view the practice of medicine.

[madinmaryland]

100. You might want to edit your post.

Certain words, even if buried, will get your post deleted.

[LSK]

3. Lamar says we dont do comprehensive bills well

[Bobbie Jo]

7. True. Republicans don't. period. nt

[LSK]

13. although thats all they did from 2001-2007

[Bobbie Jo]

15. "Well" being the key word.

[backscatter712]

4. As usual, Lamar Alexander's full of shit.

"Kill the bill and start over!"

Then making excuses for the GOP not having their own bill.

[tallahasseedem]

10. They always

want incrementalism and it NEVER works because they always put it off. No more Obama, get it done!!!

[Mel]

18. yep, you know it

It's to hard where to big of a country to do health care reform and let us not forget tort reform, republicans are full of it!

[tallahasseedem]

5. Who just caught

Alexander's "classroom" comment. They're trying to frame Obama as the law professor again.

[elleng]

6. 'This is a car that can't be fixed.'

'We don't do comprehensive well.' Lamar is correct to some extent.

[Jim__]

8. So far , it all sounds predictable. I doubt anything will come of this - n/t

[gateley]

43. "So far"? Not even a half hour into it and you've concluded how it will end? Come on!

Don't give up!

[Jennicut]

9. The hypocrisy is stunning from Alexander. His wife had breast cancer and he was able to

get her good treatment because he has good health care.

[elleng]

22. I thought he was referring to a constituent.

[bdamomma]

96. isn't that what it comes down too, these guys have good insurance

coverage, and to hell with everyone else. Just my opinion. Such BS is going on.:mad:

[cali]

11. could you edit your op to say that this is the live healthcare summit thread

and perhaps do it in caps? Maybe then we won't get so many threads.

[gateley]

12. Wise choice of McConnell and Boehner to let Alexander do the opening song and

dance. He comes across as likable and reasonable, rather than being argumentative and cold as some others may have been.

[LSK]

14. maybe Boner is already too wasted to speak

[Subdivisions]

16. Alexander asking the President to renounce the Democratic plan. Jesus Christ on a crutch. n/t

[LSK]

17. now Lamar is saying dont you dare use reconciliation

[elleng]

19. Yessir, we LEARNED that majority rule can be tyranny!

That was the case for 8 years! And it will take a long time for us all to recover from that.

[Bobbie Jo]

21. Start over my ass.

[LSK]

24. unless he wants to start with Medicare for all

Then sure, scrap everything else.

[Subdivisions]

23. Alexander: Let's start over. ....Idiot. n/t

[Cass]

25. LOL, you gotta love the expression on Obama's face!

His face describes my feelings exactly.

[tallahasseedem]

27. Wasn't that great?!?!!!

He is a bigger person than I am...I was screaming at my tv from the kitchen!

[tallahasseedem]

26. I seriously hate..

Alexander. He spouted off a whole lotta shit just now.

[LSK]

28. Pelosi up - will split time with Harry Reid

Then Boner is up I think.

[conservdem]

29. Did the admin respond to the Repuplicans letter asking about

how the meeting would proceed?

[LSK]

30. I didnt hear anything, I was hoping Obama would say a joke

Like "I hope you guys are ok with the room temperature or should we have it turned up a little. Anyone need a pillow?"

That would have been priceless, Im sure Biden would have said it.

[gateley]

31. WE would have loved it -- wish he would have. And I agree, Biden probably

would have alluded to it.

[LSK]

32. Harry : you are entitled to your opinions, not facts

[LSK]

35. Harry: Reconciliation has been used mostly by you guys

Hes been on the attack the most so far, whats up with him?? :rofl:

[backscatter712]

44. He's letting him have it with both barrels!

I wish he'd do that every day...

[Emit]

37. Seems like Reid is finally getting to some of the meat of the problem

I just started watching when Lamar Alexander was wrapping up, but seems like Reid is making pointed comments

[CatWoman]

39. Harry's doing a great job of setting the record straight

:)

[DainBramaged]

34. Link

http://www.c-span.org/Topics/Health-Care-Insurance-Reform-Legislation-Town-Hall.aspx

[LSK]

40. thanks, I put it in the OP n/t

[Cass]

36. Lol, tell him Harry! 150 republican amendments.

Burn burn burn. This is good.

[gateley]

38. Has Biden nodded off during Harry's rousing statement? I know how he feels. Poor

Harry - his heart is in the right place on this.

[Jennicut]

47. It is the most alive I have ever heard him. But that voice could make anyone sleep.

[madokie]

41. Go Harry

Nancy You done good too, Pres O you're great for doing this, this way
I wish it wasn't necessary to retrain the re:puke:s but it is.

[Cetacea]

42. Reid continuing to destroy the reconciliation is scarce myth

It;s only ok to use it for republikan bills...

[LSK]

45. Obama now is going to destroy Lamar Alexander

:popcorn:

[LSK]

48. as I heard your proposals, gee Im thinking these sound close to ours

Some of that is actually in the bill.

[madokie]

46. School the bastids mr President

they damn sure need it.

[Arkana]

49. Looks like this gave Reid a chance to say some things

that he's been itching to get off his chest.


Haaaaaaa...54% say the GOP aren't going to make a sincere effort per Gallup.

[POAS]

50. McCant has that "deer in the headlights" look...n/t

[tridim]

51. Can't wait to hear him talk..

He's going to say some very stupid things.

[LSK]

55. Maybe he will declare an emergency and rush to do the Letterman show

:rofl:

[Arkana]

52. Lamar Alexander, you're about to get PWNED.

[backscatter712]

54. SMACK!!! WHO'S YO DADDY!!!

[tallahasseedem]

57. He's (Lamar) is getting testy...

this is going to be a great afternoon! LOL!

[POAS]

58. The "your not entitled to your own facts" meme which I think

we will hear often today.

[Subdivisions]

63. Alexander tried to weasel out of addressing the President's FACTS,

The President said it will be settled during this conference. SMACK DOWN!

[LSK]

53. now they are debating what the CBO says about premium costs of the plan

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

56. so far, McConnell and Boehner have said nothing.

While the dem leadership is out front. i guess they don't want to go on record.

They're making Alexander do the heavy lifting.

[Arkana]

59. It's because Alexander is viewed as slightly less greasy.

Alexander, unlike Mitch and Boner, has actually crossed party lines more than once--on the jobs bill, and before he voted for Sonia Sotomayor.

[Arkana]

60. Ohhhhhhh dear...Mitch is up.

And then "Dr." Coburn.

Prepare to feel your blood pressure shoot through the roof.

[LSK]

61. McConnell is now going to quote his own polls

and now DOCTOR Coburn

Doctor

:rofl:

[tallahasseedem]

67. They are really

freaking out about the reconciliation thing. That's all they can talk about.

[Arkana]

71. They're scared as hell of it

and I think that for once, Democrats are smelling blood in the water.

[mikelgb]

62. Coburn: uh uh uh

[Arkana]

64. To be fair, that's a part of Obama's speech tendencies too.

There are plenty of other reasons to hate Coburn--like the fact that he's an unfeeling cyborg who hates poor people.

[BattyDem]

75. True, but at least Obama says something of substance after the, "uh uh uh"

:-)

[Bobbie Jo]

65. Would this be a good place to throw out....YOU LIE!?

[elleng]

66. Do I HAVE to listen to coburn?

[Arkana]

68. I had to change the channel.

Coburn makes me want to put a pickaxe through my TV.

[LSK]

69. OMG Govt healthcare is riddled with fraud???

:rofl:

:wtf:

[LSK]

72. here we go - tort reform

:eyes:

[LSK]

74. hes pulling 15% out of his ass

The most I heard that tort reform is 10% costs and thats the highest figure, others say its 2%.

[Arkana]

78. They whine about Medicare but the fact is that it only spends 2% of its total costs

on administration.

The best-kept secret in this country is that Medicare is the most efficiently-run health care system in America.

[BattyDem]

90. KO said it best last night

His father, who has Medicare (and some other supplemental insurance) has been in the hospital for six months, yet Keith's out-of-pocket health care expenses during that time were more than his father's.

Medicare works. It's efficient and they don't have people on staff whose only job is to figure out how to deny claims.

[Arkana]

73. Obama is looking at him like "Is this asshole kidding?"

[Arkana]

76. Coburn is actually talking about MORE government intervention.

And I don't think he realizes it.

[SethInUpstateNY]

77. "Doctor" Tom Coburn.

Isn't he the same son of a bitch who sterilized a woman without her consent?

[Mel]

79. tort reform & fraud Coburn

never mind what the CEO's of insurance companies bring home never mind what insurance companies take out of the system in health care dollars that could actually be used for health care.

[iceman66]

80. The solution to the health care crisis is "undercover patients"???

Who does this asshole think he is kidding?

[LSK]

82. here the comment about NYC

If he had 3 more minutes, we would have heard about the welfare cadillac driving mothers.

[LSK]

81. Harry: I know a lot about filibusters, but we have a lot of members....

Ok, what did they do with the REAL Harry Reid!

:rofl:

[Arkana]

83. Yes, MSNBC, just go ahead and gin up more unnecessary anger.

[LSK]

84. what did they do? I have cspan3 on

[Arkana]

87. It was basically more outrage at "POLITICIANS!!!"

[BattyDem]

86. What happened?

I'm watching C-SPAN 3

[elleng]

85. See ad against Prez O's plans? cnn.

[Arkana]

88. Hoyer talking about the public option now.

Of course MSNBC cuts him off.

[crazylikafox]

89. I missed that. What did he say?

[Arkana]

91. I don't know--MSNBC wouldn't allow me to hear it.

[goclark]

98. So cspan is letting people think for themselves and the "honest"

main stream media has been told to do the hatchet job?

I'm a cube rat today.

I love my right hand too mucch to hurt it by punching my television.

Thanks for the excellent rhread, keep it coming.

[HughMoran]

92. This seems like a productive dialog

I'm liking this so far - even if the Republicans are grandstanding excessively....

[backscatter712]

94. It's making the GOP bullshit obvious.

We all know there's not going to be an agreement from this meeting, but this does show the GOP for who they are - obstructors.

There will be plenty of cover for shoving this bill through with reconciliation. I'm pretty confident of that.

[bdamomma]

93. yuk, we all know the repigs do not want to do anything

for the American people, I give Pres. Obama credit for sitting down and talking to those jerks.

[LSK]

95. Baucus says we dont have much differences

Of course he made sure of it with his efforts to kill the public option.

[Enrique]

97. Baucus looks sober today

:toast:

[LSK]

99. starting a new thread - link

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7793006&mesg_id=7793006

Trying to keep threads to about 100 replies.

[bdamomma]

101. McConnelll what a jerk he is, the party of No plan.

talking about the time given to each party.

[rosesaylavee]

103. Is it safe to assume that 'taking this Step by Step'

was the talking point decided at over breakfast.

:eyes:

[Javaman]

104. So what will be the result?

-the repukes will look like the asses they are

-then the Dems will scold them and use their patented feigned indignation/finger wagging

-then there will be all sorts of heated discussion about how the Dem's kicked their ass

-then there will be all sorts of puffed up buffoonery by the Dem's to "pass this now!!!"

Which will then turn into...

-wait wait!!! we can't! for some fucked up reason or another.

-Some false flag controversy will pop up.

-Everyone will look in that direction

-then finally the debate will slowly fade away.

Like all of this hasn't happened before.

folks, stop being so gullible to the manufactured bullshit that is constantly thrown at us to keep us off balance.

We have seen this play before, the rolls have only changed a little but all the players are still the same.

[rosesaylavee]

105. McCain = Deputy Dog

Mealy-mouthed, lying sack of ...